Permits*

Permits for construction of new housing units were up 4 percent in the third quarter of 1998 at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,581,000 units and were up 9 percent from the third quarter of 1997. One-unit permits, at 1,172,000 units, were up 3 percent from the level of the previous quarter and up 10 percent from a year earlier. Multifamily permits (5 or more units in structure), at 338,000 units, were 6 percent above the second quarter of 1998 and 6 percent above the third quarter of 1997.

*Components may not add to totals because of rounding. Units in thousands. **This change is not statistically significant. Source: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce

Starts*

Construction starts of new housing units in the third quarter of 1998 totaled 1,632,000 units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, a statistically insignificant 4 percent above the second quarter of 1998 and 13 percent above the third quarter of 1997. Single-family starts, at 1,266,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 2 percent higher than the previous quarter and 12 percent above the year before. Multifamily starts totaled 323,000 units, a statistically insignificant 16 percent above the previous quarter and a statistically insignificant 18 percent above the same quarter in 1997.

*Components may not add to totals because of rounding. Units in thousands. **This change is not statistically significant. Source: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce

Under Construction*

Housing units under construction at the end of the third quarter of 1998 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 949,000 units, a statistically insignificant 2 percent above the previous quarter and 13 percent above the third quarter of 1997. Single-family units stood at 650,000, a statistically insignificant 2 percent above the previous quarter and 14 percent above the third quarter of 1997. Multifamily units were at 268,000 units, up a statistically insignificant 4 percent from the previous quarter and up 9 percent from the third quarter of 1997.

*Components may not add to totals because of rounding. Units in thousands. **This change is not statistically significant. Sources: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce; and Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development

Completions*

Housing units completed in the third quarter of 1998, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,511,000 units, were up a statistically insignificant 2 percent from the previous quarter and up 11 percent from the same quarter of 1997. Single-family completions, at 1,193,000 units, were up a statistically insignificant 3 percent from the previous quarter and up 10 percent from the rate of a year earlier. Multifamily completions, at 280,000 units, were unchanged from the previous quarter but 17 percent above the same quarter of 1997.

*Components may not add to totals because of rounding. Units in thousands. **This change is not statistically significant. Sources: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce; and Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development

Manufactured (Mobile) Home Shipments*

Shipments of new manufactured (mobile) homes were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 369,000 units in the second quarter of 1998, which is 1 percent below the previous quarter but 3 percent above the rate of a year earlier.

*Units in thousands. These are HUD-code homes only and do not include manufactured housing units built to meet local building codes, which are included in housing starts figures. Source: National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards